Following a strong 2-0 start to the season that included a win over then-No. 2 Baylor, the K-State equestrian team has catapulted to a No. 5 national ranking in the most recent Varsity Equestrian Coaches Poll.

K-State opened the season with a dominating 12-7 win over then seventh-ranked TCU, a show that saw the Wildcats sweep all four MVP awards. The Wildcats' second win on the young season came against the then second-ranked Baylor Bears in a thrilling 10-9 come-from-behind victory.

"Being in the fifth spot is really exciting for our team and a good reflection of our riders' hard work and performances in the first two matches this season," said head coach Casie Lisabeth. "It's a big achievement to not only move up from the last poll, but to be one of the top Big 12 teams."

Senior Western rider and team captain Laura Browne has gotten off to a hot start on the year, winning her first two matchups with both rides garnering her Horsemanship MVP honors. Teammates Liz Godfrey (Equitation over Fences), Meredith Finch (Equitation on the Flat) and Kaylee Stout (Reining) have also picked up MVP honors this season in two matches.

After holding down the No. 1 spot in the Varsity Equestrian Coaches poll for the majority of the fall of 2008, the Auburn Tigers have returned to the top spot in the bi-monthly poll. Baylor has dropped five spots to No. 7 following its early-season loss to the Wildcats, while TCU only lost one position, falling to No. 8. The Big 12 has the most schools from any conference in the top 10 with Texas A&M and Oklahoma State joining K-State and Baylor. The next coaches' poll will be released Wednesday, Nov. 4.

K-State will have another opportunity to climb up the polls as it hosts yet another nationally-ranked team, the fourth-ranked Oklahoma State Cowgirls, on Oct. 31 at Fox Creek Farm.